The three constituent parties of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) amicably resolved their differences, concluded their seat sharing arrangements for the local government elections in the North and Eastern provinces and agreed to work together as one team.

All the three TNA constituent parties agreed to contest the local government elections in the ‘House’ symbol of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK).

Given below the full text of the Press Release by the TNA:

"The Tamil National Alliance constituent party leaders Hon. Mavai Senathirajah (ITAK), Hon. Selvam Adaikalanathan (TELO), and Hon D. Siddarthan (PLOTE), met with members of parliament and party representatives on 9th December 2017 and held discussions regard to the forthcoming local government elections and resolved all issues pertaining to said election.

Nominations would be submitted in the name and the symbol (House) of the ITAK. A fervent appeal is made to the voters in the North and the East to wholeheartedly support the Tamil National Alliance contesting under the ITAK and the House symbol.

Furthermore, the three parties have agreed to release a common election manifesto of the TNA for the local government elections, based mainly on the ITAK’s 2015 parliamentary elections manifesto.

The problem within the partners of the Tamil National Alliance has been amicably sorted out, told N.Sri Kantha, a former member of parliament and the Secretary General of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO).

Today at 11 AM, leaders of TELO, People Liberation Organization Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and ITAK met in Colombo at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. The meeting was presided over by R.Sampanthan, Leader of the Opposition, as well as the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance.

On behalf of the ITAK, M.A. Sumanthiran MP and Mavai S.Senathirajah MP, who is also the Leader of the ITAK participated in the meeting.

On the TELO side, Selvam Adaikalanathan MP, Deputy Chairman of Committees, as well as the Leader, N.Sri Kantha, former member of parliament and Secretary General of the Party, Vinthan Kanagaratnam, Northern Provincial Councilor and Treasurer, also former members of parliament, Vino Noharathalingam, Jana Karunakaran and M.K.Sivajilingham, who is also the Northern Provincial Councilor, and Henry Mahendran Vice President of TELO participated in today’s meeting.

The discussion went on till 2.30 PM and almost all the contentious issues were resolved at the meeting.

‘Asian Tribune’ learnt that seat sharing agreement has been amicably resolved as follows:

In the Jaffna district :

TELO has already been given Kayts, Karainagar Delft Pradesh sabhas and Valvetiturai Urban Council.
In today’s meeting, it has been agreed that ITAK would be given the chairmanships of Karaveddy and Nallur Pradesha sabhas for the the first two years and TELO will succeed in the final next two years. Similarly in Kopay Pradesh Sabah TELO would assume the chairmanship for the first two years and ITAK will succeed in the next two years.

ITAK will have the mayoral position of Jaffna Municipality, Chavakachcheri Urban Council, Point Pedro Urban Council, Chavakachcheri, Point Pedro and Vali North pradesha sabahs. TELO is allotted with Deputy Mayor position.

All the three pradesha sabahs in Valikamam South, West and Southwest have not been decided. It is learnt that PLOTE will receive the chairmanship in tow of these pradesha sabahs.

In the Kilinochchi district:

ITAK will have all the three pradesha sabahs in the district – Karachchi, Pooneryin and Pachchilaipalai.

In the Mannar district:

Mannar UC, Mantai West pradesha sabah chairmanship to TELO and ITAK to have Mannar and Nanattan pradesha sabahs chairmanship.

In the Mullaitivu district:

PLOTE and TELO to share amongst them for a period of two years, the chairmanship of Pandiyan Kulam and Karaithuraipattu pradesha sabahs and Puthukkudiyuruppu and Thunukkai pradesha sabahas chairmanship goes to ITAK.

In the Trincomalee district:

Trincomalee Urban Council, Trincomalee Town & Gravets and Kutchaveli pradesha sabahs to ITAK, but the deputy chairmanship of Trincomalee UC allotted to TELO.

Tirukovil and Karaitivu pradesha sabahs chairmanship to TELO. In the Kalmunai Municipality 8 wards are identified as predominantly populated by Tamils and out of that, 5 wards to TELO and the leader of the Opposition to TELO and three wards for ITAK.